“What Good is a Song? The Friday Night Drum is the longest running public affairs program for progressive information in Atlanta, Georgia. The program speaks to the legacy of revolution and why we shouldn’t trust our enemies to tell the truth about Haiti or the integrity of the Zimbabwe Chimurenga revolution.

Free and Awaken Blacks Declare Robert Mugabe our hero and Call up the courage and intelligence of Mbuya Nehanda for Zimbabwe

ZIMBABWE IS A WAKEUP CALL FOR AFRICA

by Dr. MOTSOKO PHEKO

The colonial destruction of Zimbabwe began in 1895. That was after that arch agent of British imperialism, Cecil Rhodes had said:

“The clearing of the land of savages could now be achieved in two to three years with the aid of a certain amount of machine guns. I contend that we are the first race in the world, that the more world we inhabit, the better it is for the human race.”

After Zimbabwe was seized through colonial terrorism and renamed Rhodesia, Britain offered to release its criminals in its prisons if they agreed to go to “Rhodesia” where they could have free land and gold mines for themselves and for the British Empire.

When that venerated patriotic woman, that heroic daughter of Africa “Ambuye” Nehanda organized the African national resistance against British colonial terrorism, the imperialist invaders killed and hanged her. This was to demonstrate what happens to those Africans who opposed colonial terrorism.

In the 1960’s following the outlawing of their earlier liberation movements against British colonialism; Africans in Zimbabwe formed ZAPU and ZANU to intensify their liberation struggle.

As it became stronger and included guerrilla warfare, the colonialists under Ian Smith, a colonial prime minister; declared their “independence” This was a rebellion against the British Crown. But Britain never crushed that rebellion of its European colonial settlers.

Thousands of Zimbabweans died on many battlefields until they won their liberation in 1979 through negotiations with Britain in which Robert Mugabe emerged as Prime Minister and later as President.

There was also the Lancaster House Agreement through which Britain would buy land from its colonial farmers as the liberation movements were not prepared to buy their own land of ancestors; taken from them through the barrel of colonial guns.

But later Britain reneged on money to buy land colonially seized from the Zimbabweans and to be returned to its African owners. This was in violation of the terms of the Lancaster House Agreement. ZANU’s government under President Robert Mugabe seized their land that had been taken away from their people through colonial terrorism.

This is what later caused Britain and its European Union partners to impose sanctions of Zimbabwe. This was under the cover of “violation of human rights.” But at the same time, the European Union insensitively wanted to observe Zimbabwe elections and decide if they are “democratic” or not. They were by no stretch of imagination impartial in these elections.

Their sanctions resulted in damaging the African country badly. They impoverished the people. There was also a time when the cholera disease broke out. Many Zimbabweans died because of inaccessible immunization vaccine that could not be imported.

The whole world was told that the purpose of economic sanctions was to punish officials of ZANU PF Government. This was not true. It is the ordinary people that suffered and even died as a result of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Western countries including Britain and America.

It must be remembered that when sanctions were proposed against Ian Smith’s Rhodesia as well as against the apartheid colonialist regime in South Africa (Azania), Western countries were the first to oppose these sanctions vehemently. Their excuse was that the sanctions would harm “ordinary people.” But in Zimbabwe, the “ordinary people” who were Africans became a non-issue.

China and Russia opposed sanctions against Zimbabwe. According to Global Policy Forum, it is the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Boutros Ghali who in 1996 called on the United Nations General Assembly to reconsider how it uses sanctions.

An American President Woodrow Wilson had in 1919 already said, “A nation that is boycotted is a nation that is in sight of surrender.” So the purpose of economic sanctions is meant for a nation to surrender and be dominated and economically destroyed.

Gross injustice and racism are still practiced by many Western countries in Africa. In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI spoke the indisputable truth that has been hidden for centuries. He declared, “Our Western way of life has stripped Africa’s people of their riches and continues to strip them.”

Corroborating this fact, a member of the Scottish Parliament Mark Ballard affirmed, “Our relationship with Africa is an exploitative one. The West no longer needs to send standing armies in Africa to strip its resources because it can do it more effectively with multi-national companies.”

This is one of the reasons why African leaders who demand genuine liberation for Africa are dubbed “radicals,” “militants,” “extremists” etc. While those who continue to manage the country and its economic resources to the disadvantage of their own African people are called “moderates,” or “reasonable.”

It was not an exaggeration or misinformation when that British humanitarian Blackhouse, said: “Upon principles that cannot be too strongly reprobated, and which want radical reformation, Aborigines [indigenous Africans], have had wholesale robbery of territory committed upon them…and settlers have become the receivers of stolen goods.”

Seven Western European countries were part of the inhuman brutal Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and signatories to the Berlin General Act of 26 February 1885. They heard their Belgian chairman Leopold speak of Africa as “this marvelous cake to share.” Such countries have not a drop of legitimacy to lecture Africa about “democracy,” “human rights,” and “rule of law.”

When Robert Mugabe’s government allowed 4000 British colonial farmers to keep over twelve million hectares of farmland, Queen Elizabeth II honored Mugabe with the title of Knighthood. Edinburgh University awarded him an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in 1994. In 1986 Massachusetts University had given Mugabe an honorary degree of LL.D.

But when Mugabe’s government later raised the land question, the source of economic power and prosperity for a nation; these universities revoked their honorary degrees on Mugabe.

On 25 June 2008The Queen of England too, revoked the Knight Grand Cross in order of Bath which she had in 1994 bestowed on President Robert Mugabe.

Robert Mugabe however, is reputed to be one of Africa’s most educated Presidents. His knowledge is not depended on honorary degrees. He has seven earned academic degrees two of which he obtained while in the Rhodesian colonial prisons.

The people of Zimbabwe have made tremendous progress in education under the ZANU PF rule. Probably to inspired his people to seek and increase their knowledge; former President Robert Mugabe himself earned his Master of Science in economics (M.Sc. degree) while already head of Zimbabwe government. This was after independence. His record of earned degrees is as follows:

1. Bachelor of Arts – B.A. (majoring in history and English) Fort Hare University 1951
2. Bachelor of Administration – B. Admin. University of South Africa
3. Bachelor of Education –B.Ed. University of South Africa
4. Bachelor of Science in Economics University of London (External Programme)
5. Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) University of London (External Programme)
6. Master of Laws LL. M. degree from the University of London (External Programme)
7. Master of Science in Economics- M.Sc.- University of London (External Programme).

Mugabe has 11 honorary university degrees from countries such as Nigeria, Tanzania, Russia and Mauritius. These countries have not revoked these degrees. In all, Mugabe has 18 university degrees excluding the three revoked by Western universities over ZANU’s policy on repossession of land by its Zimbabwean owners.

In conclusion, it is important to remind that the present and future leaders of the African Union carry a big burden of responsibility for Africa’s people on their shoulders. They must wake up. How long will Africa be bullied by former colonial terrorists?

This may be a bitter pill to swallow. But whatever wrongs Robert Mugabe may have committed; they are far outweighed by those of the authors of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, colonial stealing of African countries, riches, artifacts and under-developing Africa through colonial terrorism and racism.

Robert Mugabe was right when he told the United Nations General Assembly recently, “Our small country is threatened daily by covetous and bigoted big powers whose hunger for domination and control of other nations and their resources knows no bounds.”

A good doctor does not diagnose a symptom as a disease. Africans too, must not take effects for the cause of Africa’s problems. If so much was never stolen and damaged in Africa, this Continent would be far ahead today economically and technologically. Damage in Zimbabwe in whatever form, has been more caused externally by desperate colonialists than internally. No African country has ever survived such inhuman and viciously sustained economic sanctions like Zimbabwe and for such a long time.

Western “democracy” has buried Libya. It has killed Somalia. It unjustly got Saddam Hussein of Iraq hanged. It is the cause of ISIS in Iraq and Syria and throughout the Middle East and the rest of the world. This Western “democracy” has nearly destroyed Syria.

Iran and North Korea are being destabilized for being not “democratic.” Zimbabwe is a wakeup call for Africa. Western imperialism is not dead. Africa will be destroyed if African leaders do not strengthen their sovereignties and become truly free independent nations with their own Pan African institutions and values.

(Dr. Motsoko Pheko is a historian, political scientist, theologian, lawyer and author of several books. He is former Member of the South African Parliament and former Representative of the victims of apartheid and colonialism at the United Nations in New York at the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva.)

“We wish to make it abundantly clear that this is not a military takeover,” said a televised statement read by Maj. Gen. Sibusiso Moyo, adding that the military was targeting “criminals” around President Robert Mugabe “who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country.” — Zimbabwe: When a coup is not a coup

When a Reported Coup is Wishful Thinking

Update, November 19, 2017

Èzili’s HLLN counters those who feed into the histrionics of the vultures in the mass media who just want to see the 93-year old Mugabe dead.

The traditional bringers of doom and vultures circling around African nations to herald, “We came, we saw, he died,” as they did with Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, got a temporary setback.

Flanked by his military commander, President Mugabe clear and strong, addressed his nation today to bury the expectations of his enemies and reinforce the reality that he is Commander in Chief of Zimbabwe and still in power. The media assessments and expectations did not pan out.

Expectations that Mugabe should reverse his decision to fire Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, resign as president and leave Mnangagwa, 75 years old, in charge as acting President of Zimbabwe were busted by Mugabe’s 19 November 2017 televised address where he announced he will preside over the party congress this December 2017.

Mugabe directly acknowledged that the country faced many challenges, including a struggling economy. But his address to the nation was to “start the nation to normalcy.”

He said: “We are a nation born out of a protracted struggle..the conditions of resistance is our collective legacy…I’m happy that throughout the short period the pillars of state remained functional…The congress is due in a few weeks from now. I will preside over its processes…. I am aware of developments in the party. However we cannot be gathered by bitterness or vengefulness.”
Here’s the entire 19 November 2017 SpeechPresident Mugabe addresses Zimbabwe – Sunday, 19 November 2017

This video gives you the flavor of the day about the assessments from the embedded African media and the international expectations which did not pan out and a brief history of Robert Mugabe (93) life and rule.

General Henri Christophe’s personal secretary, who lived more than half his life as a slave, described crimes perpetrated against the slaves of Saint-Domingue by French savages:

“Have they not hung up men heads downward, drowned them in sacks, crucified them on planks, buried them alive, crushed them in mortars?

“Have they not forced them to eat excrement , and having flayed them with the lash? Have they not cast them alive to be devoured by worms or onto ant hills or lashed them to stake in the swamp to be devoured by mosquitoes?

“Have they not thrown them into boiling water cauldrons of cane syrup? Have they not brutally raped women, girls and boys until victims bled to death? Have they not put men and women inside barrels studded with spikes and rolled them down mountainsides into the abyss?

Have they not consigned those miserable blacks to man-eating dogs until the latter, sated by human flesh, left mangled victims to be finished off with bayonet and poniard?“

General Constantino Chiwenga and the Zimbabwe military statement that wasn’t covered well by the media

Forward soldiers, alaso and ever vigilant, nap veye yo, watch them!

History teaches us that our open enemies remain poised to strike at every turning point in their attempt to stop the arc of history from bending toward justice. This is why they constantly instruct us to forget our history and “leave in the past.” Inevitably this means their injustice unacknowledged, not ameliorated, not repaired, will just continue to traumatize Black folks in the present. Mugabe is the rare African leader who did help the oppressed find some justice. And, although at 93-years old, the time is obviously near for Mugabe to leave office, our enemies would like us to demean him for this glory; completely humiliate and turn our backs on him to defame the white injustices he righted. No. We won’t forget all that he has done for African people. Indeed, the colonial mindset would have us forget everything that the revolution in Zimbabwe means for the African world revolution. Not happening, no matter what happens from here on out.

In assessing the potential departure of Robert Mugabe as President of Zimbabwe before his term ends, we won’t allow colonized sentiments to distort our revolutionary perspective.

During this transitional period in the Chimurenga/Revolution in Zimbabwe and on the heels of the anniversary of the Battle of Vertieres, we see Kapwa Lamò in Mugabe facing the present day Rochambeaus and will sing for the Zimbabwe people the song of the victorious Haitian revolutionaries:

Grenadye, alaso! Sa ki mouri zafè a yo. Nanpwen manman. Nanpwen papa. Sa ki mouri zafè a yo.
(Soldiers, attack! For those who die, that’s their own business. There are no mothers or fathers here. For those who die, that’s their own business). Stay tuned.

It’s appropriate now to recall the public statement of the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces [ZDF], General Constantino Chiwenga.

Publicly issued Tuesday, November 14, 2017, it was initially censored both in the media and online. This, so that the Deep State, which has an long embargo against Zimbabwe’s local development and stability, could feed its rabid colonial bloodlust.

Of course, we don’t expect the colonialists and their bankers to stop stirring up divisions in Zimbabwe nor in Haiti through deceit and dirty coins. But it’s a relief, for once, to observe an African leader with his own military who continues to stand against the Western pain and agony always launch at us, so that like in Libya, our anguish and agony can feed U.S.-Euro vampirish needs. Those instigating and prematurely celebrating the ouster of a 93-year old African president want to make Zimbabwe another killing field for the Africans who live there.

Veye yo.

Countering the customary white terror and negativity against Black competence, sovereignty and self-rule, General Constantino Chiwenga, the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces [ZDF] stated:

“Let us begin by quoting the Constitution of this Country particularly the preamble which speaks of ‘Exalting and extolling the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives during the Chimurenga/Umvukela and national liberation struggles and honoring our forebears and compatriots who toiled for the progress of our country’.

It is with humility and a heavy heart that we come before you to pronounce the indisputable reality that there is instability in Zanu-PF today and, as a result, anxiety in the country at large. Zimbabwe’s history is hinged on the ideals of the revolution dating back to the First Chimurenga where thousands of people perished.

Zanu-PF is the political Party that waged the Second Chimurenga for our independence – the struggle in which many Zimbabweans, in one way or the other, sacrificed and contributed immensely for our liberation.

Many of these gallant fighters still live on with the spirited hope of seeing a prosperous Zimbabwe, but also the hope of leaving behind inheritance and legacy for posterity. It is pertinent to restate that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces remain the major stockholder in respect to the gains of the liberation struggle and when these are threatened we are obliged to take corrective measures.

Clearly, Zanu-PF having mainly been the only Party that has ruled this country since Independence, it had become a household name to most Zimbabweans across political divide. Therefore, it is common cause that any instability within the Party naturally impacts on their social, political and economic lives; accordingly, there is distress, trepidation and despondence within the nation.

Our peace-loving people who have stood by their Government and endured some of the most trying social and economic conditions ever experienced are extremely disturbed by what is happening within the ranks of the national revolutionary Party.

What is obtaining in the revolutionary Party is a direct result of the machinations of counter-revolutionaries who have infiltrated the Party and whose agenda is to destroy it from within. It is saddening to see our revolution being hijacked by agents of our erstwhile enemies who are now at the brink of returning our country to foreign domination against which so many of our people perished.

The famous slogan espoused by His Excellency, The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe: ‘Zimbabwe will never be a colony again’ is being seriously challenged by counter-revolutionary infiltrators who are now effectively influencing the direction of the Party.

It is our strong and deeply considered position that if drastic action is not taken immediately, our beloved country Zimbabwe is definitely headed to becoming a neo-colony again.

The current purging and cleansing process in Zanu-PF which so far is targeting mostly members associated with our liberation history is a serious cause for concern to us in the Defence Forces.

As a result of squabbling within the ranks of Zanu-PF, there has been no meaningful development in the country for the past 5 years. The resultant economic impasse has ushered in more challenges to the Zimbabwean populace such as cash shortages and rising commodities prices.

Our revolutionary path is replete with conduct and rebellion by people who have attempted to destroy the revolution from within. The formation of FROLIZI, the attempt to remove the late Comrade Chitepo from his position of Chairman at the Mumbwa bogus Congress in 1973, the Nhari-Badza rebellion, Ndabaningi Sithole rebellion soon after the death of Comrade Chitepo, the Vashandi 1 and 2, as well as the rebellion that led to the death of the late ZIPRA Commander, Comrade Alfred Nikita Mangena, among others are cases in point.

Therefore, the current shenanigans by people who do not share the same liberation history of Zanu-PF Party are not a surprise to us.

But, what is significant to us and the generality of Zimbabweans is to remember that all these rebellions were defused by the military, but at no point did the military usurp power.

We must remind those behind the current treacherous shenanigans that when it comes to matters of protecting out revolution, the military will not hesitate to step in.

ZANU PF’s standing political virtues are a product of faithful adherence to the founding values, decorum, discipline and revolutionary protocol in the ruling Party.

Party orders were strictly adhered to and whatever differences existed, they were resolved amicably and in the ruling Party’s closet. Unfortunately since the turn of 2015, Zanu-PF’s traditional protocol and procedures have changed with a lot of gossiping, backbiting and public chastisement being the order of the day. Indeed the Party is undoing its legacy built over the years.

While our people may be persuaded to take what is going on in Zanu-PF as internal political matters in that Party, the truth remains that Zanu-PF’s conduct and behaviour as a ruling Party has a direct impact on the lives of every citizen; hence all of us, regardless of political affiliation, are affected by the Party’s manner of doing business.

From a security point of view we cannot ignore the experiences of countries such as Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa Republic, and many others in our region where minor political differences degenerated into serious conflict that had decimated the social, political, and economic security of ordinary people.

Section 212 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe mandates the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to protect Zimbabwe, its people, its national security, and interests and its territorial integrity, and to uphold this Constitution.

Among other security threats that are coming out of what is obtaining in Zanu-PF are the reckless utterances by politicians denigrating the military which are causing despondency within the rank and file.

Further, we not with concerns the attempts by some politicians to drive a wedge between the security services, for their own selfish interests. This is unacceptable. We take great exception to this behavior.

There is only one Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency The President, Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe.

The military in an institution whose roles cut across the wider spectrum of government support functions in the form of military aid to civil power and military aid to civil ministries, which are roles derived from defense instruments.

Therefore we want to state here and now that the history of our revolution cannot be rewritten by those who have not been part of it.

Having said that we strongly urge the Party: (1) To stop reckless utterances by politicians from the ruling Party denigrating the military which is causing alarm and despondency within the rank and file. (2) The current purging of which is clearly targeting members of the party with a liberation background must stop forthwith.

The known counter revolutionary elements who have fermented the current instability in the Party must be exposed and fished out. As the Party goes for the Extra-Ordinary Congress, members must go with equal opportunity to exercise their democratic rights.

Comrades and friends, ladies and gentlemen, we remain committed to protecting our legacy and those bent on high-jacking the revolution will not be allowed to do so.

Further, we must understand that the freedoms that we enjoy today were as a result of supreme sacrifice by some of our country men and women and this must not be taken for granted. Let us remove this air of uncertainty and allow Zimbabweans to enjoy their freedoms and rights as enshrined in the national Constitution.”